9. Siddhidatri

Dhyana Mantra

सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाद्यैरसुरैरमरैरपि। सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

May Siddhidatri, who is served always by siddhas, gandharvas, yakshas, asuras and devas alike, be the giver of siddhis.

The ninth power of Mother Durga is named Siddhidatri. She grants siddhis of every kind. According to the Markandeya Purana, anima, mahima, garima, laghima, prapti, prakamyа, ishitva and vashitva — these are the eight siddhis. The Shri Krishna Janma Khanda of the Brahmavaivarta Purana states this number as eighteen. Their names are as follows:

1. Anima
2. Laghima
3. Prapti
4. Prakamya
5. Mahima
6. Ishitva, Vashitva
7. Sarvakamavasayita
8. Sarvajnatva
9. Durashravana
10. Parakayapraveshana
11. Vaksiddhi
12. Kalpadrumatva
13. Srishti
14. Samharakarana-samarthya
15. Amaratva
16. Sarvanyayakatva
17. Bhavana
18. Siddhi

Mother Siddhidatri is capable of granting all these siddhis to devotees and seekers. According to the Devi Purana, it was by her grace that Lord Shiva obtained these siddhis. By her compassion alone half of Lord Shiva's body became the Devi's. For this very reason he became famous in the world by the name 'Ardhanarishvara'. Mother Siddhidatri has four arms. Her mount is the lion. She is also seated on a lotus flower. In her lower right hand is the chakra and in the upper right hand the mace, and in the lower left hand the conch and in the upper left hand a lotus flower. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri worship. On this day the seeker who practises with scriptural rules and complete devotion obtains all the siddhis. Nothing in creation remains unattainable for him. The capacity to gain complete victory over the universe comes to him.

It is the duty of every person to make constant effort to obtain Mother Siddhidatri's grace and to advance toward her worship. By her grace one can remain untouched by the infinite, sorrow-filled world, enjoy all pleasures, and attain moksha.

Among the nine Durgas, Mother Siddhidatri is the last. Having worshipped the other eight Durgas according to scriptural rules, devotees engage in her worship on the ninth day of Durga Puja. After completing the worship of this Siddhidatri Mother, all the worldly and other-worldly desires of devotees and seekers are fulfilled. But in the devotee who is the recipient of Siddhidatri Mother's grace, no such desire remains at all that he wishes to fulfil. Rising above all worldly desires, needs and cravings, wandering mentally in the divine worlds of Mother Bhagavati and constantly drinking the nectar of her grace, he becomes free of all sense-enjoyment. Mother Bhagavati's supreme presence itself becomes his everything. After attaining this supreme state he has no need of any other thing.

To obtain this presence at the Mother's feet we should constantly remain disciplined and worship her. The remembrance, meditation and worship of Mother Bhagavati give us awareness of the worthlessness of this world and lead us toward the truly supremely peaceful, immortal state.